The Discontinued Lexus CT200h Is Actually Updated for 2018

This is not the Lexus CT200h that was sold in the United States for seven model years.

This is the updated 2018 Lexus CT200h.

Lexus’ U.S. operations no longer wishes to bother with the CT, so 2017 is the end of the line for the hybrid hatch in America. But Lexus’ local discontinuation of the CT comes just in time for Lexus to update the CT200h for other markets.

As in the U.S., the Lexus CT200h is not long for this world in other markets, either. But at the end of its tenure, Lexus designers added mesh to the grille, integrating spindle shapes into the spindle grille, and added more chrome to the foglight surrounds. The taillights are now more in line with other Lexus products, and the rear bumper has more distinguishable tall and wide outlets in the corners.

Inside, the center screen now measures 10.3 inches. Interior fabrics come in a wider range of colors. Pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise, lane departure warning, and auto high beams. Unfortunately, Lexus did not upgrade the CT200h’s powertrain, so it’s still producing only 134 horsepower. Meanwhile, in the UK, Lexus increased the price by £910 because of the equipment upgrades.

None of these changes bring meaningful improvements to the CT range, but in corners of the world where small and efficient vehicles make up a far greater share of the luxury market, not having an entry in this sector would be far more of a problem than in the United States. Based on the UX Concept from the Paris auto show last year, it’s likely that a crossover will be the real replacement for the CT200h, Autocar reports, though likely not for another 18-24 months.

Back in the U.S., Lexus will finish off its clear-out of remaining CTs by selling fewer than 5,000 copies in 2017. This will be the compact Lexus hybrid’s third consecutive year of sharp decline. Fewer than 100,000 CTs have been sold in America since its 2011 launch. Lexus sells more than 100,000 copies of its RX every year.

[Images: Toyota Motor Corp.]

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars and Instagram.